Bristol Groper jailed for six years

The Bristol Groper has been jailed for six years for preying on women as they walked alone through city streets at night.

Benjamin Jackson's attacks left "women in this city in a state of extreme fear and trepidation" according to Judge Julian Lambert.

The 30-year-old admitted four charges of sexual assault, all of which were carried at night in the Whiteladies Road area of Bristol.

Bristol Crown Court heard that when police searched Jackson's home, they found a number of Post-It notes which had comments written on them relating to the attacks.

They included comments such as: "was drunk, don't remember it all really", "in a bad place, should have had help", and "so ashamed and upset about what I did".

Jackson, of Walter Street, Southville, had written in another: "really messed up, went through a really dark time last year in October and November. Something happened to me then and started groping birds, realised how bad it had got but too late."

Three of the victims were university students.

Brian Pixton, prosecuting, said that the first victim, aged 21, was attacked at about 7.10pm on October 24 in Hanbury Road, Clifton, when Jackson forced her to the ground and assaulted her.

Jackson assaulted his second victim, a 26-year-old woman, at about 2am on November 8 as she walked home from the Lizard Lounge club on the Triangle, along Hampton Park, Redland.

He attacked her as she tried to find the keys for her front door.

Half an hour later, on the same night, a 20-year-old woman was attacked in Alma Road in Clifton as she walked home from a bar in Park Street.

The final victim, also aged 20, was attacked at about 3am on November 21 as she sat on a wall outside her home in Hampton Park. Jackson put one hand on her head, another over her mouth, and forced her to lie down on the wall before assaulting her.

Mr Pixton told the court that the women had been deeply traumatised, with some having counselling, one unable to leave her home for a few weeks, and one of the university students needing to obtain special permission to hand in her dissertation late.

Jackson was arrested in February, a month after CCTV images of him were released by police and a £5,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Mr Pixton explained how the police had used a DNA sample taken from Jackson, who had no previous convictions, to link him to the assaults.

He said: "The defendant had left his DNA on the underwear of the second victim and then transferred her DNA onto the underwear of the fourth."

Two other men arrested in connection with the attacks had already been released without charge.

Rosaleen Collins, defending, said Jackson had led a "model life" with a good record in education, employment and with long-term relationships.

She said: "What the Post-It notes say indicates that something happened to this young man that he could not explain.

"He talks about letting everyone down, including his girlfriend, mother and sister. He talks about methods of suicide.

"He was actually horrified at his own behaviour. It was so totally out of character."

Miss Collins said Jackson had taken a cocktail of alcohol and drugs before the attacks.

Sentencing, Judge Julian Lambert said Jackson might not have carried out the attacks if he had not taken a cocktail of drugs.

"But you had chosen to take those drugs," he said.

"You terrorised women on the streets of this city and the impact of what you did will last for years.

"It will last for life for your victims.

"You chose four victims, all young women, who were entitled to enjoy the streets of this city unmolested by a pervert such as you."